Yom Kippur 2026: The Jewish people are chosen - but not because they are better - opinion
As we recite Ata Behartanu many times during the High Holy Days, let us remember that we were chosen out of God’s love, not because of our own special characteristics.
The High Holy Day prayer book contains prayers that express fundamental Jewish values. One such prayer, Ata Behartanu, is found in the Amidah recited during every service during the High Holy Days. This prayer contains a concept that has been misconstrued throughout history.
The idea of the "Chosen People" is deeply rooted in the Torah. Exodus 19:5-6 states, "Now therefore if you keep my covenant, then you shall be my own treasure from among all peoples... and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Similarly, Deuteronomy 7:6 says, "For you are a holy people unto the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own treasure out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth."
Despite these clear biblical references, the concept of the Chosen People has been attacked by both non-Jews and some within the Jewish community. Critics like William Norman Ewer and Arnold Toynbee have questioned the validity of this concept. Even some Jews, like Yosef Hayim Brenner and Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, have sought to alter or reinterpret it.
To truly understand the Chosen People concept, it is essential to examine the Hebrew verb "bahar," which means "to choose." In the context of the Torah, this verb often refers to God selecting a person or place for a specific purpose. For example, God chooses the priests to serve Him, King David to lead the Jewish people, and Jerusalem to house the Temple.
In the context of the Chosen People, the verb "bahar" highlights four specific tasks that the Jewish people were chosen to fulfill. These tasks include teaching the world about monotheism, observing the Torah and mitzvot, commanding children to follow the way of the Lord, and serving as a light for the nations to bring God's salvation to the ends of the Earth.
Critics might argue that the Jewish people were chosen because they are superior to other nations. However, the Torah itself refutes this notion. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 states that the choice was not based on the size or strength of the Jewish people, but rather on God's love for them and His commitment to keep the covenant He made with their ancestors.
Initially, the concept of the Chosen People appeared to be one-sided, with God choosing the Jewish people and them remaining passive recipients of this divine favor. However, with the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people reciprocated by accepting the covenant and committing to fulfill the mitzvot. This mutual commitment is reflected in Exodus 19:8, where the Israelites respond, "Everything which God said, we shall do."
This dynamic relationship between God and the Jewish people is further emphasized in the well-known midrash that describes God offering the Torah to all nations, with each rejecting it due to the rejection of a specific mitzvah until ultimately, God offers it to Israel, who responds affirmatively. This midrash exemplifies the idea that a Chosen People is indeed a "choosing people."
In summary, the concept of the Chosen People in Judaism is rooted in the belief that the Jewish people were selected by God for four specific tasks: teaching monotheism, observing the Torah and mitzvot, commanding children to follow the Lord, and serving as a light for the nations. While some may question this notion, the biblical and historical evidence clearly demonstrates that the Jews themselves chose to accept the covenant and fulfill the mitzvot, making them a "choosing people."
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
